We want to thank our two keynote speakers, Dr Lesley Rameka, University of Waikato, andProfessor Nicola Yelland, Flinders University, and our many panellists, for their willingness tocontribute to our hui programme. We are really pleased with the final programme which focuses onengaging in collaborative research.

Student poster sessionAn important part of our hui programme is the opportunity for postgraduate students to share theirresearch projects through our student poster session. Due to the delays in advising members of thefinalised programme and venue, we will accept submission of abstracts for this session for review up

to Friday 2 nd November and we will advise students on their acceptance within one week ofsubmission. We would appreciate it if full SIG members could encourage their postgraduate studentsto submit an abstract for the poster session.

RegistrationRegistrations for the hui are being managed through the NZARE Office. Please complete theregistration form here and email it to nzare.eo@gmail.com The registration fees for the hui are as follows:SIG full member: $80Non-member – full: $90Student: $50

Registration fees can be paid by internet banking (see details on registration form) or throughinvoice. Receipts will be issues upon receipt of payment.Our numbers at the venue are limited to 55 people so please register promptly in order to secureyour place.

DinnerFollowing the hui, you are welcome to join us for dinner at Volare Italian Restaurant and Pizzaria, 91Charles Prevost Drive, The Gardens. Volare is located about six minutes’ drive from the mainManukau town centre. Please see their website (https://www.volare.co.nz/) for details of theirmenu.

The student SIG are having their dinner at The Republic Bar and Kitchen, next to the WestfieldManakau Shopping Centre (so close to our venue at Te Rito Maioha) so you may like to start theevening with a drink there before dinner.We look forward to seeing our colleagues at the hui on Sunday 25 th November.

Ngā mihi nuiMaggie, Waveney and SueCo-convenors

NZARE Conference Abstract reviewers

The ECE SIG is responsible for reviewing all abstracts submitted to the Annual Conference with the co-convenors managing the process of selecting reviewers. If you are interested in reviewing abstracts for this year’s conference, please complete the attached Expression of Interest and return to Maggie Lyall by 25th August. This is a great opportunity for PhD students to gain experience in reviewing so supervisors, please encourage your students to complete the Expression of Interest. Click here to download the form

2017

Strengthening community based ECE - Report for consideration by ECE SIG

At the ECE SIG hui on 19th November, there was considerable discussion about how to inform and influence the new government about ECE policy. The Strengthening community based ECE in Aotearoa New Zealand: Report of the quality public ECE project report was discussed and it was agreed that a remit be prepared for further discussion at the business meeting on 21st November. The report is attached here for members’ information.

ECE SIG Hui Programme AvailableThe programme for the ECE SIG Hui Broadening the impact of our research: Bringing ECE research and advocacy together is now available. The hui features a Keynote address from Anne Meade; panel sessions on disseminating research work, funding research projects, researcher advocacy experiences and using social media effectively to promote research and advocacy work; and a round table discussion on informing a new government.

Announcing 2017 ECE SIG hui The ECE SIG hui will be held on Sunday 19th November, prior to the start of the NZARE annual conference (20-22 November) at the University of Waikato. The theme of the hui is Broadening the impact of our research: Bringing ECE research and advocacy together. Further information will be available on the conference and NZARE websites, and through the newsletter as planning progresses. Following on the success of last year’s Student poster session, (photo below), post-graduate students who are currently engaged in, or have recently completed, their master's or doctoral theses. Click here for details and to download the form to enter your poster. Applications are due 31 August.

Lyn Foote and Judith Duncan awards

Following the successful inaugural awards in memory of Lyn Foote and Professor Judith Duncan, we are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2018 award round. Please see the Awards page for details

The closing date for nominations for these awards has now been extended to 1 August 2018. The recipients of these awards will be announced as part of our ECE SIG hui on 19th November.

Call for reviewers: NZARE conference abstracts Abstracts submitted for the NZARE annual conference are reviewed by the relevant SIG(s). In preparation for this year’s conference, we are calling for expressions of interest from ECE SIG members to review abstracts with an ECE focus. Please download and complete the form and email to the co-convenors by 15 July 2017. If you have any questions, contact one of the co-convenors.

November 2016

The ECE SIG hui ("Recognising the Role of Research") that preceded the 2016 conference was a day filled with celebration, learning, and making connections with colleagues from around the country. This was followed by three days of conference presentations and further networking. Click here to read more, and see photos below.

Launch of Anne Meade / Carmen Dalli (eds) book with several contributors.

Announcing Two new Early Childhood Education SIG Awards for Members:

The Lyn Foote Award for Student Research in Early Childhood is given to a current NZARE member who has completed a high-quality masters or doctoral thesis in any topic relevant to early childhood education and care. Click here for more information. Closing date for entries is 1 August 2016

Judith Duncan Award

The Judith Duncan Award for Early Childhood Research is given to a NZARE member who has made notable contributions to the field of early childhood education and care through the conduct of high-quality research. The award is intended to support high-performing early career scholars or mid-career scholars in having their work recognised and honoured at the national level. Click here for more information. Closing date for entries is 1 August 2016

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SIG

Me he horoeka

(Stong and tall like the horoeka)

The Early Childhood SIG has been established for interested early childhood professionals to share research and explore topics for the early childhood sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is anticipated that participants will use the SIG as a means to connect and collaborate with colleagues from around the country and internationally. Within the SIG, our aim is to create opportunities to share research in a supportive environment in order to build research capacity and nurture emergent and early researchers in the sector.

The Early Childhood SIG promotes the growth and development of early childhood research as a critical and integral part of wider educational research and source of information for the sector. We encourage early childhood researchers to share and disseminate their work in early childhood circles and to wider education communities. We support a diverse range research topics and methodologies from a diverse group of researchers including practising early childhood educators, lecturers and scholars at universities and training institutes, students and student teachers, primary school teachers, educators in extension education services, families of young children, and other professionals with an interest in early childhood education.

PAST YEARS:

2015

ECE SIG UPDATE (Nov 2015)

The NZARE Conference and Annual Meeting was held in November 2015 over four wonderful days in Whakatane. The conference was a great opportunity to meet new colleagues and connect with old friends. It was a smaller group of early childhood interested researchers this year, but there were still plenty of exciting sessions and rich discussions on offer for those with an interest in young children.

The ECE Hui "REVITALISING OUR RESEARCH RELATIONSHIPS" was held at Victoria University of Wellington on 15 May 2015.

Keynote speakers: Prof Marilyn Fleer (Monash University) Download a copy by clicking on the title below

The programme included presentations, emerging researcher presentations students), round-table topics for discussion and panel presentations on TLRI, and on Publishing.

Obituaries: The Early Childhood Education community was saddened by the passing of both Lyn Foote and Judith Duncan during the early part of 2015. Alex Gunn's tribute to Lyn Foote on behalf of colleages can be downloaded here.

2013

EARLY CHILDHOOD SIG HUI 2013

26 November at University of Otago, College of Education, Dunedin

This year's Early Childhood SIG Hui reflects the growth and development of early childhood research as a critical and integral part of wider educational research. This development requires that early childhood researchers consider how they 'out' their research, both in early childhood circles and to the wider education communities.The focus of the Early Childhood SIG is two-fold:

To build research capacity - through discussion/debate, forums, etc.

To nurture emergent researchers through providing opportunities to present in a 'safe' environment with a more expert audience.

Note that a change to the NZARE format this year involves Special Interest Groups meeting within the full conference. While we look forward to experienced early childhood researchers participating fully in the Early Childhood SIG, the SIG provides opportunities for presentations which will focus on nurturing emergent researchers.Emeritus Professor Anne Smith was the keynote speaker. Professor Smith is from the University of Otago's College of Education and is a highly respected specialist in childhood studies and children's rights. She has been involved in research, advocacy, and policy-making on childhood issues in New Zealand for almost 40 years.

2012:

No information available

2011

Early Childhood Special Interest Group Hui:

Monday 28 November

THE 2011 NZARE Conference and Annual Meeting was held Tuesday 29 November to Thursday 1 December in Tauranga. An Early Childhood Special Interest Group Hui was held prior to the conference on Monday 28 November. Theme: "Politics, Practices and Research: Keeping it real." Keynote Speakers: Associate Professor Dr Jennie Ritchie, UNITEC, and Dr Janis Carroll-Lind, Research Leader, Te Tari Puna Ora NZCA.

The Hui provided a forum to share and engage in critical discussion around research in the early childhood education sector. Two types of sessions were planned: round-table discussions and paper presentations. New and experienced researchers were invited to submit an abstract.

Round Table Discussion: Round Table discussions are 45 minute sessions designed to allow presenters and participants to engage in dialogue over particular research/methodological issues, dilemmas or innovations raised by the presenter. The presenter is required to prepare and present a 15 minute summary of the issue, dilemma or innovation for discussion in context of their research. They then facilitate a 25 minute critical discussion with the participants around what has been presented. The final 5 minutes is allowed for summarising discussion/wrapping-up the session. Round Table discussions may be presented and facilitated by more than one person. Presenters of similar issues, dilemmas or innovations may be invited to form a symposium.

2010

No information available

2009

ECE Pre-Conference Workshop 2009: ‘Research for the Field’

30 November 2009, Rotorua

This hui was held the day before NZARE Annual Meeting and Conference. It provided a venue for emerging and experienced researchers to discuss, debate and pursue quality research in and for early childhood education. There were 45-minute sessions on aspects of research methodology, methods and doing/using research; and 90 minute chaired symposia on selected current issues in early childhood education (already proposed are symposia on infant and toddler care; curriculum and pedagogy; assessment; and professional development).

A keynote address was presented by Anne Smith from the University of Otago College of Educationand followed by a keynote response. The focus was researching in the interests of advocacy and children’s rights.

» Download Anne Smith's keynote entitled "Implementing the UNCRC in New Zealand: How are we doing in early childhood?" (PDF, 205KB).

The conference provided an ideal opportunity to consider what is needed to improve student outcomes. Highlights were:

NZARE Herbison Lecture:

Professor Joy Cullen: Outcomes of Early Childhood Education: Do we know, can we tell, and does it matter?

The lecture examined the interface of policy, research, and practice, in the context of early childhood education. This area has developed in NZ as a voluntary education sector, marked by a separate curriculum and diverse services. Today, government commitment to participation in quality inclusive early childhood settings is evident in the regulations, policies, teacher resources and teacher development programmes that have evolved since the launch of the Te Whariki curriculum in 1996. The increasing investment of public funding in early childhood education has been accompanied by claims that early childhood education makes a difference to a child’s life chances. The question asked by Prof Cullen was: “What New Zealand evidence underpins this claim?”

The question was examined in relation to variables such as: an ideologically-driven curriculum; increased use of qualitative methodologies; key researchers in curriculum initiatives; and the Ministry of Education as major research funding agency. Read full lecture here

CONTACTS

If you are not currently a member then contact admin@nzare.org.nz to find out how you join.